Stafford lights up ‘Chicago Fire’

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Addy Stafford, junior, recently appeared on NBC’s new television series, Chicago Fire. Stafford played the role of Julie, a teenage girl caught in a car crushed by falling debris from a window washing apparatus above. This role was her first appearance on television.

“It was a 10 hour day of filming. My call time was 6:30; I had my own dressing room, which was so cool, where I got into hair and makeup. When the time came, they told me I had to go to set, which was on Dearborn Street, and we started filming,” Stafford said. “We spent the most time filming the scenes in the car because they required the most action shots and we had to keep switching me out with the stunt double, and then we did scenes on the stretcher. It all ended at around 5:30.”

While there wasn’t much downtime on set, Stafford was able to meet and talk with the other cast members in between takes. According to her, they were like a family.

“I didn’t want to be obnoxious and introduce myself to [the other actors]. Jesse Spencer was the first to introduce himself to me, and he was so nice. We talked a lot because we had lines in the scene together. Everyone was super talented and cool; they’re just regular people,” Stafford said.

However, Stafford admits that working with professionals was scary as well. “My biggest challenge was how fast paced everything was, keeping my cool and being mature and independent; I didn’t want to mess up,” Stafford said.

Stafford auditioned for the role after her talent agency, Big Mouth Talent Inc., told her about it. At the call, she read lines from the script in front of the director—by the end of the day, she had heard she’d gotten the part.

“I was watching TV, and I heard my mom getting excited. She was talking with my agent, who was telling her nothing was certain yet, but then I ended up getting [the part] later on. I was so excited,” Stafford said.

Stafford has been performing on stage and auditioning for television roles for most of her life. Her favorite part about the process is being taken out of her comfort zone and assuming roles that are very unlike her.

“I think she was really good. She was the best part of the show, to be completely honest. She came on, and I was so impressed by her acting,” said David Gallo, senior and a close friend of Stafford’s.

Parker Klebenow, sophomore, will be also appearing on Chicago Fire on Wednesday at 10/9c on NBC.